Variety hosted its annual Hitmakers event on Saturday in Los Angeles. Hitmakers honors emerging and established talent in the music industry, and the in-person celebration and carpet brought together the stars behind 2023’s biggest songs.
This year’s Hitmaker of the Year Award went to SZA, whose single “Kill Bill” was the No. 2 charting single of 2023. “Kill Bill,” a ballad about SZA’s fantasy of murdering her ex, was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, including the highly-sought after “Record of the Year,” as well as “Song of the Year” and “Best R&B Performance.”
Currently supporting Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour as the opening act, Sabrina Carpenter attended as the recipient of the Rising Stars Award presented by H&M. Carpenter has made waves in the news recently for her bloody music video, “Feathers,” which was shot in a Brooklyn Catholic Church and led to the dismissal of a priest from his post. The former Disney star released her fifth studio album “Emails I Can’t Send” last year, becoming Carpenter’s highest-charting album.
Billie Eilish and Finneas were among the attendees, being honored for their work together on the song “What Was I Made For?,” which played during a particularly impactful moment in this summer’s hit film “Barbie.” “Vampire” singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo also attended as recipient of the Storyteller Award.
Among other attendees on the carpet were “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling as presenter; singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers as presenter; Boygenius as honorees for Group of the Year; Victoria Monet as honoree for the Triple Threat Award; singer-songwriter Conan Gray as presenter; singer-songwriter Julia Michaels as presenter; and Michael Stick as honoree for the Music Education and Advocacy Award presented by City National Bank.
See below for the red carpet looks.
Billie Eilish
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Billie Eilish attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827095452.jpg?w=300)
Hitmaker honoree Billie Eilish on the Variety carpet.
Olivia Rodrigo
![Olivia Rodrigo at Variety Hitmakers, Presented By Sony Audio held at Nya West on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1817399616.jpg?w=200)
Olivia Rodrigo attends the Variety Hitmakers Awards to accept the storyteller of the year honor.
Sabrina Carpenter
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827012942.jpg?w=300)
Sabrina Carpenter arrives to Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers Awards for her “Rising Star” honor.
SZA
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: SZA, winner of the Hitmaker of the Year award, (L) and guest pose onstage during Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1827305059.jpg?w=205)
SZA, winner of the Hitmaker of the Year award, poses for a photo at Variety’s Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio.
FINNEAS
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: FINNEAS attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827084366.jpg?w=300)
FINNEAS on the red carpet for Variety’s Hitmakers.
Mark Ronson
![Mark Ronson at Variety Hitmakers, Presented By Sony Audio held at Nya West on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1817399794.jpg?w=219)
Hitmaker honoree Mark Ronson wears all blue on the carpet.
Boygenius
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: (L-R) Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker of boygenius attend Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827081211.jpg?w=198)
Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker of boygenius attend Variety’s Hitmakers for the group of the year honor.
St. Vincent
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: St. Vincent attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827039512.jpg?w=200)
St. Vincent, who is presenting Olivia Rodrigo with the Storyteller Award, poses on the carpet for Variety’s Hitmakers.
Maggie Rogers
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Maggie Rogers attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827094370.jpg?w=200)
Maggie Rogers is presenting the Hitmaker award for Changemaker of the year to Maren Morris.
Maren Morris
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Maren Morris attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1826984996.jpg?w=300)
Changemaker of the year Maren Morris arrives to Variety’s Hitmakers award in a red dress.
Victoria Monét
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Victoria Monét attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1827176276.jpg?w=200)
Victoria Monét stuns in a blue strapless gown with teardrop-shaped embellishments on Variety’s Hitmakers red carpet.
Joan Baez
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Joan Baez attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1826993941.jpg?w=200)
Joan Baez is presenting the Hitmakers Award for Group of the Year to Boygenius.
Grace Bowers
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Grace Bowers attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1826974838.jpg?w=300)
Grace Bowers arrives to the Variety Hitmakers brunch in a white suit.
Julia Michaels
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Julia Michaels attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1826970633.jpg?w=300)
Julia Michaels is presenting the “Rising Star” award to Sabrina Carpenter at the 2023 Variety Hitmakers brunch in Los Angeles.
Eslabon Armado
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Eslabon Armado attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1826987080.jpg?w=300)
Collaboration of the Year honorees Eslabon Armado arrives at Variety’s Hitmakers event.
Julia Michaels and Sabrina Carpenter
![Julia Michaels and Sabrina Carpenter at Variety Hitmakers, Presented By Sony Audio held at Nya West on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1817399011.jpg?w=200)
Julia Michaels and Sabrina Carpenter pose inside Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers.
Ashley Gorle
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Ashley Gorle attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1826973769.jpg?w=300)
Songwriter of the year, Ashley Gorle attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch.
Chris Turner
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Chris Turner, Senior Director, A&R, Capitol Records attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827059766.jpg?w=200)
Chris Turner, Senior Director, A&R, Capitol Records on the carpet for Variety’s Hitmakers.
Shaun Ross
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Shaun Ross attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827014005.jpg?w=300)
Model-musician Shaun RossS inside Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers.
Babyface
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Babyface attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827014512.jpg?w=200)
Babyface sports a denim coat on the 2023 Variety Hitmakers carpet.
Conan Gray
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Conan Gray attends the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827011370.jpg?w=200)
Conan Gray, who is presenting the Label of the Year award to Republic Records, arrives to Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers Awards.
John Byron
![John Byron at Variety Hitmakers, Presented By Sony Audio held at Nya West on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1817399405.jpg?w=300)
Songwriter John Byron at Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers.
Maren Morris and Janet Weir
![Maren Morris and Janet Weir at Variety Hitmakers, Presented By Sony Audio held at Nya West on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1817399304.jpg?w=300)
Maren Morris and Janet Weir at Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers.
Khris Riddick and Rob Bisel
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Khris Riddick and Rob Bisel attend the 2023 Variety Hitmakers Brunch at NYA WEST on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827022257.jpg?w=300)
Khris Riddick and Rob Bisel at Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers.
Jasmine Covarrubias
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Jasmine Covarrubias attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827046875.jpg?w=212)
Jasmine Covarrubias poses on the Variety Hitmakers carpet.
Flavor Flav
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Flavor Flav attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827023317.jpg?w=199)
Flavor Flav poses on the carpet at Variety’s 2023 Hitmakers.
Carter Lang
![HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Carter Lang attends Variety's Hitmakers presented by Sony Audio on December 02, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Variety via Getty Images)](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1827089079.jpg?w=200)
Carter Lang at the 2023 Hitmakers honors.